Wrangler better?

[vtgrenadier]

I don't have much experience with the JL, but have a JK (2017) that excels at its intended purpose: running up and down the beach in search of stripers (the fish, not the occupation... although, I've seen some disrobe in the heat). I pulled all of the carpeting out on Day One and built rubber-linked mats (like the kind Series Land Rovers were fitted with). By Fall, there's a solid 1" of sand accumulated on the floors... it's very much used as a tool and with the half-doors, both rare and functional in 4-door configuration.

I drove my Grenadier up my dirt road for the first time during what we in Vermont call "mud season." Boy was I disappointed in the washboard performance of the Grenadier! Almost worse than the Jeep.

 

[RobP]

I currently have 2 Wranglers, a 2 door JL Rubicon on 35's and a 4 door JL Rubicon on 35's (Exteme Recon package). To me, the Grenadier is much more comfortable in every situation with the exception of the driveline vibration on the highway at 2k rpms. It's much smoother on and off road and offers significantly more storage than the 4 door JL Wrangler. I do have the Fox adjustable steering stabilizer on the Grenadier, otherwise I'd prefer the Wrangler steering. I prefer the full time 4wd on the Grenadier as well. The Wrangler steers very differently when it's in 4wd mode.

 

[CRH]

The Wrangler steers very differently when it's in 4wd mode.

That's quite interesting, I'm guessing you mean worse, is it worse than the Grenadier with the stock stabiliser?
I'm happy with mine on the stock one with nr 20,000 miles on it, it holds steady and will slowly centralise just need to input a bit more for the last 45 degrees ish.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

I currently have 2 Wranglers, a 2 door JL Rubicon on 35's and a 4 door JL Rubicon on 35's (Exteme Recon package). To me, the Grenadier is much more comfortable in every situation with the exception of the driveline vibration on the highway at 2k rpms. It's much smoother on and off road and offers significantly more storage than the 4 door JL Wrangler. I do have the Fox adjustable steering stabilizer on the Grenadier, otherwise I'd prefer the Wrangler steering. I prefer the full time 4wd on the Grenadier as well. The Wrangler steers very differently when it's in 4wd mode.

You don’t find your 4 door Rubicons to be “cushier” than the IG?

In my week with it I found the Rubi to be way cushier than my IG on and off road ( high speed washboard and potholes). I blast it down whatever in front of me.

With the IG I find myself bracing for impending road surface imperfections, knowing it will be a stiff or jarring bump

 

[HereinDaRockies]

That's quite interesting, I'm guessing you mean worse, is it worse than the Grenadier with the stock stabiliser?
I'm happy with mine on the stock one with nr 20,000 miles on it, it holds steady and will slowly centralise just need to input a bit more for the last 45 degrees ish.

4h on the wrangler involves locked center diff, so does not compare to IG’s 4wd with open center diff. Steering with center diff locked is highly awkward on high traction surface..

 

[HereinDaRockies]

drove my Grenadier up my dirt road for the first time during what we in Vermont call "mud season." Boy was I disappointed in the washboard performance of the Grenadier! Almost worse than the Jeep.

Yeah washboard in my grenadier sucks… rattles and uncomfortable.
this was the most pronounced difference that I felt with the Rubicon. The rubicon was also at 44psi. It still felt much better than my IG at 36psi

 

[MattA]

haven’t read the whole thread but holly crap, jeep better than a Grenadier, that is not confidence installing that’s for sure

 

[RobP]

4h on the wrangler involves locked center diff, so does not compare to IG’s 4wd with open center diff. Steering with center diff locked is highly awkward on high traction surface..

This.
I launched a boat the other day in the 4 door wrangler and put it in 4wd before backing down the trailer. It's not really meant for this type of application and was hard to turn. Wranglers are RWD by default and don't play well if you have traction and put it in 4wd but I'd rather not chance sliding on a potentially slippery boat ramp.

 

[RobP]

You don’t find your 4 door Rubicons to be “cushier” than the IG?

In my week with it I found the Rubi to be way cushier than my IG on and off road ( high speed washboard and potholes). I blast it down whatever in front of me.

With the IG I find myself bracing for impending road surface imperfections, knowing it will be a stiff or jarring bump

I find the IG cushier but I haven't taken it through a washboard yet. I have with the Rubicons and they're all over the place! I run my tires at 34psi on all of them and they all have KO2s.

 

[DaveB]

Have been driving a rental rubicon on factory ko2 (at 43psi) over the past week in the Mojave desert.

The jeep(with 2k on the odo) feels more solid than my grenadier on wash board roads. It’s squeak and rattle free( unlike the grenadier which makes a horrible metallic rattle on the driver side). HVAC works without any fuss. All the off road bits work great - activated 4L, lockers and sway disconnect on various segments of a trail. Took the front row hard top panels out for a period of time. Suspension feels more comfortable going over potholes and washboards.

The jeep has the 2.0 turbo. Sounds like sht, but has decent power.
Steering has no squeal sound and turning radius is excellent.

Yeah I have been told it has poor build quality. However so far on this trip it has been highly impressive… makes me wonder did I get the wrong vehicle?

It’s also about $25k cheaper(aggressive discounts from Jeep) than the grenadier

Any former wrangler owners say otherwise?
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There is absolutely no point asking other people if you have the right vehicle for you.
That is something you have to decide for yourself.
It also depends if it is going to be your only vehicle, which I think is the case for many of us outside North America.

Australia is obsessed with 4wds and SUV's and they are by far the majority of vehicle sales
In Australia the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport has a list price equivalent to USD$50,000 on road but even a bad negotiator could get $10,000 off that.
Jeep Australia sold only 2,594 vehicles total in 2024.
February 2025 they sold only 32 Wranglers and that included dealers sales to themselves as demo stock.
Although Ineos don't report actual sales I was talking to one dealer who said he delivered over 30 Grenadiers in the month.
That is just one of 28 dealers.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

haven’t read the whole thread but holly crap, jeep better than a Grenadier, that is not confidence installing that’s for sure

Well just my anecdotes based on a week’s worth of driving the jeep.

 

[DaveB]

I find the IG cushier but I haven't taken it through a washboard yet. I have with the Rubicons and they're all over the place! I run my tires at 34psi on all of them and they all have KO2s.

It would be normal if driving on roads with lots of corrugations or washboards to reduce the tyre pressure even further to improve the ride.

 

[Tazzieman]

Tyres 25psi on corrugations

 

[DaveB]

Tyres 25psi on corrugations

The 17" rims also help to give more sidewall flex.

 

[angstorms]

Back in January when I had to rescue 4xe on the Alpine loop, I personally found the Jeep more cramped compared to the Grenadier, the controls we bit odd. I did have to use the lockers to get them out and traction boards since they were nose first into a snow bank on side of the road. . At the time the Alpine Loop with snow and ice over the road so it had number of hard ripples. Had more control in Grenadier than the Jeep on that surface. Once I got them un stuck I wanted out of the Jeep..

If you love the Jeep more, get a Jeep, you had lot of issue with your truck that lot us have not had. Once you distrust a vehicle it down hill spiral, I sold few cars when this happened.

For me I look forward to pulling off the ZF/Sachs/TRW mono tube shocks for Bilstein's in the future. Also wonder what tire were on the Jeep that can have big effect as well.